We are going to produce a high-definitionTRAVEL DOCUMENTARY about ROUTE 66 that will include all of the most important and useful information regarding The Mother Road with multiple interviews and picturesque landscapes in the background. It won't be an ordinary travel guide. It will be a modern, cinema quality narrated documentary containing lots of interesting, new and practical information for every Route 66 lover. Expect multiple graphics and animations. However, for all that becoming a reality we need this campaign to become 100% successful! Become a part of this unique project and receive one of the unique rewards associated with The Mother Road!

Check out our other works under the links at the bottom or in the project updates!

Everyone will agree that traveling Route 66 is an unusual experience. Once hitting the road, you get this exciting and extraordinary feeling of moving back in time and finding yourself in a different reality. In addition to that, this is also a 2500 mile long trip which involves thorough preparation and it certainly needs time to be explored. Therefore, many questions arise while looking for crucial information while planning the trip!

Our documentary will be answering these doubts and questions. It will follow many places that can be seen on the way and give clear and practical information of how much time it might take to travel to a certain place or town, what is there to see, how long it might take to spend there, who you might (or who you should) meet, and finally, how much it might cost. Therefore, in addition to beautiful shots, interviews with owners of historic places and other Route 66 inhabitants we will include detailed animations and graphics which will present everything what Route 66 travellers needs to know.

Route 66 EXPERIENCE

We've already had this wonderful opportunity to travel the whole Route 66 in July 2012. Our thoughts as filmmakers were to grasp as much as we can and keep it for ever! This is why we created an independent music video for the old Route 66 song written by Bobby Troop to the Depeche Mode's version of the song (parts of that video are featured in the main material about this project).

Now it's time to produce a FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY that will contain a ton of valuable knowledge and live on forever as a snapshot of American culture.

WHERE WILL WE GO?

In this documentary we will be quite uniquely presenting the 2500 miles trip starting from the West. This direction is rarely described in guide books or on DVDs although it is also very often used. We are going to visit many towns and cities along the way, some very famous places like Cadillac Ranch or Blue Whale of Catoosa, but also a lot of other interesting spots often not mentioned in tour guides. The film will feature picturesque landscapes, multiple motion controlled time lapses and wonderful shots of places that every tourist may visit while on the road. Every day we will be in a different place.

WHO WILL WE INTERVIEW?

We will meet a lot of people who contributed their lives to serve the uniqueness of The Mother Road and whose stories need sharing! Apart from famous Route 66 representatives, our film will also feature interviews with less known haunts one may encounter while traveling Route 66. We will interview barbers who've run their shops for more than 50 years, owners of gas stations, souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and people who've worked there for years. We will also talk to the owners of contemporary places such as modern hotels and shops that make the trip all the more convenient. All of this serves our goal of providing as much practical information as possible.

WHERE THE PROJECT STANDS NOW?

We've already done research and collected our experiences while traveling Route 66. We know owners of historic places who are willing to contribute to the project. We have also spoken to a few distributors who might be willing to release the film on DVD, but firstly we have to produce it using our own funds.

We have collected a lot of our own film equipment that we will use for the production. We will be using cinema quality Sony F3 camera and at least two Canon 5D mk3 cameras for time lapses and additional shots. Plus a lot of other helpful gear.

WHERE WILL THE $38K GO?

The film will be shot with movie quality equipment and crewed by professionals that do this for living. This is going to be a full length documentary which is NOT a short holiday movie that can be occasionally created having some savings in the pocket. By the standards of professional documentary film-making, our budget is the minimum that will allow us to produce an ambitious project like this.

Every dollar with be spent on this project. Large part of the minimum budget will cover hard costs during the film production which are transport (7 states and back!), accommodation and alimentation during 3 weeks of travel, insurance and entrance fees. Additionally it will cover film gear expenses, media expenses (music rights, voice over) and film postproduction costs (editing, color correction, sound mix, graphics and animations). Also, it covers the kickstarter campaign fees (up to 10% of the budget) and the costs of creating and shipping the kickstarter rewards.

This is the minimum budget that will allow us to undertake this challenge, however any additional amount of money will give us access to better equipment (cameras, lenses, sliders and other upgrades), hiring more crew and producing even more content for the documentary (RF controlled quadcopter for aerial shots, a few more side trips, behind the scenes video). It will also allow for more advanced postproduction process (more advanced animations, graphics, rights for better quality music).

FUTURE PLANS:

We plan to complete this film by the end of August 2013. In the meantime we are building our distribution network so as to increase chances of finding a final distributor by the end of 2013. If everything goes as we plan, you will be able to find a nicely covered "Route 66 - From LA to Chicago Travel Documentary" on DVD, Blu-Ray or digital download. Keep your fingers crossed!

What is kickstarter:

Kickstarter is a meaningful platform for creative projects like ours to secure the funding needed to be able to produce our film. It allows you to be a part of our project at an early stage by pledging money towards the cause. In return, we have wonderful rewards you based on your pledge donation!

You will only be charged your pledge amount if we reach our entire funding goal in time.

However, if it does NOT get to the minimum budget, we do not receive ANY of the money pledged up to that point. Your credit/debit card never gets charged, and the and the project won't become a reality. Again, this is why we need your support!

THANK YOU!

Thank you for your support! Your generosity will not go unrewarded, because we've created unique items only available to Kickstarter supporters. Please note - you can pledge any amount from $1 to infinity, and we are grateful for every dollar! Also, once you donate some of your hard earned money to our project please share the news with as many people as possible so that your support combined with a support of your friends and colleagues will allow our project to become a reality!

If you like our project but can't afford to help financially, it will be a priceless help to spread the news to everyone you know so that it's likely to reach as many people as possible. Share this link on your Facebook, Twitter, blog or website; email your friends and family. The more people see this, the better our chances for hitting our goal and making this amazing modern travel documentary!

We are convinced that our project will bring a lot of joy to all Route 66 lovers - for those who have travelled the Mother Road, those, who are planning to take the trip and those, who love to admire its uniqueness by watching high quality materials.

Feel welcomed to ask us any questions by using the "Ask a Question" link at the bottom.

Follow the project progress here:

Links:

Have a look at the latest short documentary by Jakub Gorajek - Director of Photography, Editor, Filmmaker

"The Winner" (2012)

Risks and challenges

A documental film is a big project and faces several hurdles, both predictable and unpredictable, but "Route 66 Travel Documentary" will be given very best chance to succeed for two very good reasons:

1. We've already travelled the whole Route 66 and we know what to expect.
2. We are a group of professionals so we know how to proceed with production and postproduction processes and we are not dependent on anyone else when it comes to finishing the project.

Nothing is being left to chance. When it comes to serious obstacles, the biggest one we face is raising sufficient funds to create the film. Kickstarter is a great tool for achieving this goal, but unless we reach 100% funding, we won't receive any of it and the documentary simply will not exist.

The other issue that might become challenging is to find a distributor who will decide to release the film on DVDs. Although we have already gained their initial attention, we cannot guarantee that the film will be released and ever make it to a home video. However, if this becomes impossible, we will firstly try to find funding for own distribution and if this doesn't work - we will find other ways to give the access to watch the documentary as its main purpose is to serve the people.

FAQ

Rewards

You selected

$5 reward

1 backer

Thank You! You will have access to a backer-ONLY blog section with the latest stories and highlights from behind the scenes. This is the cheapest way to travel 2550 miles of legendary America and experience the places and adventures alongside us!

Estimated delivery:May 2013

You selected

$10 reward

1 backer

Halfway through our journey you'll receive a digital download of iconic images taken during production, to be printed as you wish! What's more, you'll receive our creative Thank You VIDEO and have your name published on our project website... and of course, you get access to the Backer-Only blog section.

Estimated delivery:May 2013

You selected

$25 reward

5 backers

See the FILM!!! A private, password-protected link to view the complete film before public distribution!
Plus all of the above!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

$35 reward

1 backer

Your very own POSTCARD from the heart of Route 66 will land on your doorstep! And when the film is complete you'll receive a printable digital FILM POSTER for the film you helped to create. PLUS all of the above!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$50 reward

3 backers

HOORAY! Be among the first to receive a limited edition DVD (standard or BLU RAY) of the final film long before the rest of the world. This is an exclusive collector's edition strictly for backers.
Plus all of the above!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$100 reward

3 backers
All gone!

Your name will appear in the film CREDITS! And, you'll receive our 2 favourite 8''x10'' Route 66 photographs printed in high quality and signed with a Thank You from us. Plus everything above.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$100 reward

0 backers

Wonderful! Receive 4 DVD or Blu Ray copies of the film AND see your name will in the film CREDITS! What's more, you'll receive our 2 favourite 8''x10'' Route 66 photographs printed in high quality and signed with a Thank You from us. Plus everything above!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$250 reward

0 backers

Become an owner of the PRINTED FILM POSTER with crew signatures! Receive 10 copies of the film on DVDs or Blu-Rays. And, for your generous contribution you will receive SPECIAL Thank You credit in the film.
Plus everything above.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$500 reward

0 backers

Fantastic!! For this contribution receive 20 copies of the film on DVDs or Blu Rays! We will personally call you from the road and invite you to join us on set (sorry, no accomodation and travel costs covered). We will also place your name in a VERY SPECIAL Thank You section in the film credits, clearly visible with larger font and only one name per line. All the other above rewards as well!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$1,000 reward

0 backers

All we can say is - this is amazing!! At this level we'll send you 40 copies of DVDs or Blu-Rays, plus a personalised Thank You VIDEO recorded on the film set with one of the people we interview for the documentary! We will be proud to post it on the project's website. What's more, we'd love to chat with you on Skype or invite you to the film set while on Route 66! Plus all the other rewards above.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$3,000 reward

0 backers

Congratulations! See your name as an Angel Funder in the film credits!! Receive all the above rewards and be invited to a DINNER with documentary producers and to a personal screening of the film!! (Place: San Francisco Bay Area, September 2013. Exact date will be mutually determined. Travel and lodging not included)

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$5,000 reward

0 backers

Wow! Now you are a Co Producer of the Route 66 Travel Documentary! Receive all the above rewards and be invited to a DINNER with documentary producers and to a personal screening of the film! (Place: San Francisco Bay Area, September 2013. Exact date will be mutually determined. Travel and lodging not included)

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$10,000 reward

0 backers

Unbelievable! We are proud to name you a Producer of the Route 66 Travel Documentary! What's more, you'll receive your very own, EXCLUSIVE PHOTO BOOK with wonderful Route 66 images and backstage photos including a special DVD edition. Plus everything above!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Feb 1, 2013 - Mar 18, 2013
(45 days)

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